Darjeeling: GJM chief Bimal Gurung’s house raided, weapons seized

Police have become alert after the violence in West Bengal, on which, she is being raided to arrest suspected people.

Meanwhile, the heavy police force of West Bengal raided Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung’s Darjeeling house on Thursday morning.The GJM party office in Patlaybas, near the party chief Bimal Gurung’s house, police recovered sophisticated cross-bows, a huge cache of arrows, large number of crackers, one country-made pistol, Khukris, axes and cash.

Darjeeling SP Akhilesh Chaturvedi said, “We had information that GJM workers were gathering in the area. We raided at three places and recovered firearms, materials which look like bomb-making ingredients, contraband and lethal weapons. We are investigating the entire incident and legal action will be taken.”A senior police officer said, “We have recovered sophisticated bows and arrows and other weapons after our raid at the party office of GJM.” Senior IPS officer Javed Shamim was present when the raid was carried out.

In response to the raids, Assistant General Secretary of GJM, Binay Tamang said, “Following the police atrocities on our democratic movement, we have decided to call an indefinite strike at the hills.”The renewed demands for a separate Gorkhaland has effectively put mainstream national parties in a tight spot with their units in the Darjeeling Hills breaking ranks with their own leadership in West Bengal, and backing calls by the hill parties.

Spearheading the movement, the GJM is now actively mobilising support for a separate Gorkhaland. This move has prompted BJP’s Darjeeling MP S S Ahluwalia to ask the Union Home Ministry to appoint a committee of experts to look into the demand.